Both spills were small, and Calumet has worked to remediate the damage and reimburse local officials for thousands of dollars in emergency services, said Steven Schauer, spokesman for the San Antonio River Authority.

This is the right response, and we applaud Calumet for taking the spills seriously.

In March, 6,500 gallons of jet fuel tainted 1.5 miles of the river. A second spill in April totaled about 1,100 gallons of jet fuel, but only 42 gallons entered the creek bed, affecting 30 yards of the river.

Yes, these spills were small. But they occurred in the heart of the Mission Reach trail, a haven for families, runners, cyclists and those who fish and kayak. There are also many homes in the area.

Calumet did not agree to an interview request, but Schauer said the company has been responsive. “We look forward to beginning to develop stronger relationships with them,” he said.

We hope so. As Express-News reporter Scott Huddleston outlined, this refinery has been plagued by problems for decades. NuStar Energy recently invested heavily in improving it before selling to Calumet, which plans for increased production there.

That's fine. This is oil-and-gas country, and we are in a boom. But with so much recreation around the plant, and so many residences nearby, this refinery merits extra care and attention.